After the second trainer- created workout of my second week of the Riverplex Reset, I found myself exclaiming, not for the first time “I need to take an Epsom salt bath!” The week before I had taken one too, and it was magical! I was still sore the next day, but I know how my body reacts, and the soreness I endured after the workout was indicative of a painful next day if I didn’t do anything.
The first week I went home, drew a bath, and poured a couple cups of the salt into the water. The aroma of eucalyptus and spearmint along with the just-hot-enough water instantly relaxed me, and I fell into a blissful relaxation for a while.
My skin felt so soft the next day, an added benefit to the bath!
So when I decided this was the ticket for week 2, I pulled up my trusty Google friend to find out HOW it works! Here’s what I learned.
Epsom salt isn’t actually salt at all, it’s made up of Magnesium Sulfate, and it’s found naturally in Epsom, England, hence the name.
Magnesium is really good for your body! It can help other vitamins absorb properly, detoxify, and even help remove the lactic acid which causes your sore muscles in the first place! Soaking in a bath is said to help the magnesium absorb into your skin and ease those pesky sore muscles! Sounds like a life saver, right?
Except for one little problem… there’s not enough science behind this claim. Damn you science, I want to believe in alternative facts!!
That doesn’t mean I was entirely wrong about feeling better in week one.
Any type of heat therapy, including baths and hot compresses, helps to improve blood circulation to the heated area, and the extra blood is what wipes away the stagnant lactic acid.
This is actually how your muscles become sore in the first place! I mentioned in another blog how I was just discovering aerobic versus anaerobic exercise; anaerobic workouts are when your body can’t get oxygen enough to fuel your body, so the acid builds up. Once you catch your breath and your pulse returns to normal, your blood is still circulating, obviously, but the pool of acid is still just hanging out on top of your muscles. You’re muscles are all “ahh help, its burning me!” But you’re like “what can I do? It’s already done!” And go about your day. So when you have a day when you hurt a bit more than you did at the last workout, heat therapy can get that blood flowing and clear things up faster!
So, in conclusion, Epsom Salt… urban myth. Baths, however, are legit.
“Are you throwing out your Epsom salt?” You ask? Heck no!! Even if IT doesn’t help the muscles, it still smells amazing, relaxes me, and my skin is all soft after. Still beneficial, I’m just a bit more educated!
Ps. I wrote this whole blog on my phone while soaking in a delightfully relaxing Epsom bath. Be jealous. It was ah-mazing
